Su Que'er withdrew her hand, her face slightly pale.
Furong stared intently at her expression, her tone turning serious: "What's going on?"
Su Que'er remained silent for a long time before finally speaking in a low voice: "Actually, Shen Sansi didn't wait until today to make his move. Before... before, he had come to see me several times. Every time he came, he asked me to play a piece of music. The strings of that zither were extremely thin, which is why I cut my hand. I didn't want Mother to worry, so I didn't tell her."
"Let me see your hand." Liu Su, who had been silent until now, changed her expression slightly upon hearing this. She stepped forward, grabbed Su Que'er's hand, examined it closely, and her tone suddenly turned cold, "It really is Heavenly Silkworm Snow Silk..."
"What is Heavenly Silkworm Snow Silk?" Zhuang Su asked, as he listened to him and came closer to examine Su Que'er's hands.
Liu Su gazed at the fine scars on Su Que'er's hand and said, "Heavenly Silkworm Snow Silk is an extremely rare type of silk thread, seldom found in this world. And the musical instrument made with Heavenly Silkworm Snow Silk strings is probably only one in the world—the 'Stringless Se'." He raised his eyes and asked Su Que'er, "Was the Se you saw crystal clear with a slight white tinge, like jade but not jade, like glass but not glass?"
Su Que'er was surprised that he knew so much detail: "How did you know?"
“If that’s really the case…” Liu Su gently lowered her hand, a hint of unease flickering in his gentle eyes. Zhuang Su, seeing him like this for the first time, couldn’t help but ask, “Second Senior Brother, what’s wrong?”
"It's nothing, I just remembered someone who might be here." Liu Su pursed her lips, hiding her suspicions, and reassured him, "It's also possible that I'm overthinking it, and that the 'Stringless Se' may have fallen into someone else's hands, and has nothing to do with that person."
Seeing his expression, Zhuang Su knew he was unwilling to answer, so she didn't ask any further questions. At this moment, Su Que'er asked, "Are you two ladies traveling together? To be honest, I still don't know your names."
Two young ladies?
Zhuang Su was taken aback and subconsciously looked up, just in time to see Liu Su's equally surprised expression. He couldn't help but laugh: "Second Senior Brother, I told you you're much prettier than me, but you didn't believe me. Look, even if you're dressed as a man, people still think you're a woman."
Her smile instantly silenced the room.
"Oh dear!" Su Que'er had assumed that Liu Su was a woman disguised as a man and that she was using the terms of senior and junior brothers to cover up her identity, so she didn't think much of it when Liu Su shook her hand. But when she suddenly heard that Liu Su was actually a man, her face immediately turned red.
Zhuang Su chuckled smugly from the side, "Oh my, it seems that Second Senior Brother is indeed stunningly beautiful."
Seeing her playful yet helpless, Liu Su let her laugh and turned to the Fu Rong group to explain, "I am Liu Su, and this is my junior sister Zhuang Su. She has recently been traveling and has come to Yangzhou."
Su Que'er was too embarrassed to speak and stood to the side with a red face. Fu Rong, being a woman of experience, saw that her daughter had made a fool of herself and couldn't help but smile and smooth things over: "Although Que'er is from a brothel, she has little experience with people. I hope you two benefactors will forgive her if she has offended anyone."
Zhuang Su stopped smiling slightly and waved her hand, saying, "There's no such thing as a benefactor. If you don't mind, Aunt Fu, just call me Su Su."
Upon hearing this, Furong didn't stand on ceremony. She smiled slightly and looked at Zhuang Su, asking, "Speaking of which, even I didn't notice. I wonder how Miss Su knew that Que'er's hand was injured?"
"I don't know either." Zhuang Su thought for a moment, then quietly stuck out her tongue. "I just felt something was off when I was listening to the music earlier, and then a thought suddenly popped into my head that it should be like this..."
"You think?" Hearing this, Furong's face flashed with surprise. She looked at Zhuang Su thoughtfully. "Just a coincidence..." Her voice was soft, gradually fading into the distance. After pondering for a long time, she suddenly said in a serious tone, "Would you two be willing to do me a favor?"
Seeing her so cautious, Zhuang Su also put away her playful mood and replied, "What is it, Aunt Fu? Please speak freely."
"I hope that you two can stay as performers of our 'Liu Hong Lou' until the end of the Flower Queen Festival."
"Huh—!" Zhuang Su was startled, wondering why Fu Rong suddenly made this request. She turned to ask Liu Su, only to see that the person had a very interested look on their face.
A sigh escaped her lips—did this man even realize what agreeing meant? The actresses in Liu Honglou were all women…
Chapter Twelve: The Story Behind the Light Clothes (Part 1)
Two days later, people from all over the country flocked to Yangzhou. A tall platform, three zhang high, had been erected at the entrance of Yangzhou's Eight Great Hutongs, which looked particularly magnificent from a distance. On the day of the Flower Queen Festival, the sound of drums thundered around the platform, attracting more and more people to surround it completely.
Occasionally, a few high-ranking officials and dignitaries would arrive, and under the reprimands of some guards, they would be escorted to a private seat near the stage.
The private seats were just feet away from the stage, offering the best vantage point for watching the courtesan contest. Only ten of these seats were situated around the entire stage, forming a ring around it, while other spectators were several feet away. Those who could sit in the private seats were all prominent and influential figures in the country.
Behind the platform is a tastefully decorated courtyard.
People moved about, some in a hurry. Everyone was preparing for their own business, with occasional shouts and some noise. The colorful flags standing at the entrance fluttered in the wind, slightly dazzling.
Amidst the bustling crowd, a bright-eyed young girl was also busy helping, moving things back and forth. Weaving through the noisy figures, she seemed flustered, but despite her hurried movements, she didn't bump into anyone.
A few wisps of dust rose from his feet, yet his movements were quite methodical.
Fine beads of sweat glistened on her cheeks, but her bright eyes and smiling face made her appear very approachable. Just then, a lightly dressed girl took the heavy object from her hands, gave her a reproachful look, and moved it aside. This girl was slightly slender, with gentle and refined manners; a slight glance from her lips accentuated the unique charm of her delicate, smooth jawline.
The two stood together, attracting subtle but noticeable glances from those around them.
After finally getting everything moving, Zhuang Su's face was already covered in a thin layer of sweat. She took the handkerchief offered by the person in front of her and wiped it off: "Second Master... um, Liu Su, thank you."
The woman before him couldn't help but attract attention; she was none other than Liusu, a man dressed as a woman. He seemed oblivious to the gazes around him, casually flicking his sleeves and glancing at the high platform already completed in the distance, before saying slowly, "After the Flower Queen Festival ends, it's time for us to leave."
Zhuang Su gave a soft "Mm": "It's time to continue south, otherwise I'm afraid I'll fall far behind, and I don't know when my father will catch up and take me back."
Liu Su glanced at her with amusement: "What, are you scared now? I wonder who was so audacious as to use the Leaf Token to teach that Shen Sansi a lesson back then..."
"Tch—" Zhuang Su was not to be outdone and also made a sarcastic remark, "Isn't there someone here who said he had to change into women's clothes to protect the ladies? Now he's not only stealing the spotlight from the older ladies, but he also seems to be particularly good at dressing up as a woman?"
Liu Su gently covered her "embarrassment" with her sleeve and said in a gentle voice, "There is a female role in traditional opera. Isn't this a form of spiritual practice?"
Zhuang Su was momentarily captivated by his handsome appearance and couldn't help but glance away. Just then, a gong and drum sounded outside, indicating that the courtesan competition had officially begun, followed by thunderous applause and a lively commotion outside.
"Shall we go take a look?" Liu Su asked, her gaze falling lightly on the unusually festive high platform.
Zhuang Su's eyes widened for a moment, then she shook her head and sighed softly, "I'm not looking anymore. We've done what we could to help. The rest is up to Miss Que'er herself." She felt a weight on her shoulder and turned to see Liu Su pat her shoulder, but he didn't say anything more. She pursed her lips slightly, took his arm, and walked back along the road towards a less populated area.
Over the past two days, the two of them worked together to revise Su Que'er's musical score, trying their best to avoid touching her injured finger. As for whether she will ultimately win, that will depend on her individual skill.
They hailed a carriage at the south post station and, carrying their pre-prepared luggage, prepared to continue their journey south. Not wanting to disturb Su Que'er's concentration during the competition, they left without telling anyone, only entrusting the innkeeper with a letter to deliver to Furong after the courtesan competition.
As the carriage left the south gate, it gradually moved away from the bustling city and began to appear desolate. Two tire tracks were left behind, indicating that it had not hit a few pebbles, but rather bounced a few times along the way before quietly settling to one side.
The wind rustled the sparse grass blades, gradually leading into the mountains and forests. The road was lined with trees on both sides, and no houses could be seen in the distance. Only the sound of wheels grinding against each other could be heard.
Inside the carriage, Zhuang Su snuggled up to Liu Su for warmth. Because he was still dressed in women's clothing, she couldn't help but stare at him intently even as she was half asleep.
Liu Su felt a chill run down her spine from the "drooling" look on her face, and couldn't help but smile bitterly: "Su Su, can't you stop looking at me like that?"
“It’s you who can’t stop me from looking at you like this.” Zhuang Su emphasized earnestly, her tongue twirling, and then she restlessly lifted his chin with her finger, saying with a hint of arrogance, “Little lady, why don’t you give me a smile?”
Liusu was both amused and exasperated by her antics, so she had no choice but to let her do as she pleased and find a comfortable position to close her eyes and pretend to sleep.
Seeing that he ignored him, Zhuang Su also felt bored, and for a moment no one spoke.
"Crunch, crunch..." The wheels continued to roll forward.
"Second Senior Brother..." After an unknown amount of time, Zhuang Su's voice rang out, sounding somewhat low in the silence.
Upon hearing this, Liu Su opened her eyes, only to see her huddled to one side, her expression obscured. She couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong?"
"You think Shen Jian will be alright?"
At this moment, all was quiet.
After what seemed like an eternity, the person finally gave a soft "Mm": "I guess so..."
Zhuang Su heard his answer and said nothing more.
The atmosphere became somewhat somber.
Liu Su glanced at the scenery through the carriage curtain and could vaguely see some lush greenery. The rich, dark green seemed to fall into his eyes and instantly fill them with a deep blue.
The carriage continued on. Then came an unbearable silence.
Just then, a cry of "Hurry—!" rang out, followed by a series of hoarse, chaotic neighs. After a sudden jolt, the carriage abruptly came to a stop. Zhuang Su abruptly opened her eyes, only to see Liu Su's equally surprised expression turn grim. She too sensed something was wrong, and in that moment of focused attention, she felt an overwhelming silence around her.
Zhuang Su slowly walked over and lifted the carriage curtain, her view suddenly opening up. The driver, who had been driving just moments before, was now leaning motionless against the carriage pillar. She felt something sticky on her hands and looked down to find that it was red liquid from the carriage curtain that had gotten onto her hands. She hurriedly checked the driver's breath and found that he was already dead.
"It seems that Miss Que'er's worries were not unfounded." Liu Su's voice sounded softly from behind, and Zhuang Su couldn't help but smile bitterly.
A group of people surrounded the carriage, each holding a knife and rubbing their hands together, eager to fight. The leader of them, with a sinister smile, was none other than Shen Sansi.
A petty person prospers? A tiger falls into the plains? Several words flashed through Zhuang Su's mind, but he couldn't think of a solution for the moment.
Shen Sansi rubbed his chin and sneered, "Young lady, we meet again." His gaze flickered slightly, and the others, understanding, roughly dragged the two from the carriage and threw them in front of Shen Sansi. Shen Sansi's eyes swept over them, and when he saw Liusu, he couldn't help but be amazed: "I originally just wanted to catch up with you, but I didn't expect there to be such a beauty by my side?"
"Cough." Even in such a dangerous situation, these words almost made Zhuang Su choke.
Liu Su stood to the side, secretly estimating the number of people who had arrived, his mood growing increasingly heavy. Shen Sansi suddenly lifted Liu Su's chin, looking down at him condescendingly: "Tsk tsk tsk, if only I had known there was such a beauty, I wouldn't have needed to go to so much trouble for Su Que'er." He scrutinized Liu Su for a moment, then laughed, "Anyway, Master only wants one person, so we'll just ask him for you..."
Liu Su caught the information in an instant, her body trembling: "Master? Who is this 'master' you're talking about?"
"That's none of your business." Shen Sansi's lewd gaze swept over Liu Su, his smile malicious. "That's none of your concern. From now on, you just need to follow me." He loosened his grip and turned to Zhuang Su, his expression turning icy. "You brat, if it weren't for the master's prior instructions, it would have been time for me to settle the score for those two slaps."
"You mean—you just can't 'settle' with me right now, right?" Zhuang Su's dark eyes flashed, and a smirk appeared on her lips. Shen Sansi didn't react for a moment, only uttering a "Pah!" from her, leaving a mouthful of spittle on his face. His expression instantly turned ugly, and he looked like he was about to strike. Veins bulged slightly, but he ultimately restrained himself from doing so.
Zhuang Su smiled contentedly, raising an eyebrow slightly. Shen Sansi's actions towards Liu Su earlier had displeased her, so this was her way of repaying him.
Shen Sansi was burning with rage but couldn't touch her. He glanced at Liusu and smiled wickedly. He ordered his men to restrain Liusu, then turned around and slapped her hard twice.
Shen Sansi struck with extreme force this time, and the sharp sound was particularly jarring.
Liusu didn't say anything, but a few traces of blood gradually appeared at the corners of her mouth, and her cheeks turned slightly red.
Zhuang Su opened her eyes wide, clearly not expecting Shen Sansi to do this, and was filled with anger and regret for her actions.
Shen Sansi's gaze swept between the two of them for a moment, then he smiled sarcastically: "What's wrong, sisterly affection?" He gestured to the side, and someone respectfully brought over something.
When Zhuang Su saw it clearly, her face turned pale.
An extremely thick whip.
Liu Su watched quietly as Shen Sansi took the whip and stood in front of her, her expression remaining unchanged.
Zhuang Su hurriedly tried to run over to stop him, but was stopped by someone next to him.
The tassels were pressed to the ground, and the cold wind fell on his slightly pale skin, with only the red at the corner of his mouth standing out.
Shen Sansi stood before him, his dark shadow looming over him, a sinister smile playing on his lips: "Such a beautiful woman, I really can't bear to lay a hand on her, but unfortunately—it seems this is the only way to appease my anger. If you want to blame someone, blame her..."
A seemingly casual remark now seems exceptionally cruel.
Chapter Twelve: The Story Behind the Light Clothes (Part Two)
"Crack—!" Silence fell. The dust that had been solidified when the whip struck the ground was suddenly shaken apart by the impact, and it spilled into the air, then scattered in the wind and turned into specks of dust on the surrounding ground.
A tear suddenly appeared in her otherwise pristine light clothing, revealing her delicate shoulder beneath. The faint crimson of her blood contrasted with her pale complexion, creating a unique beauty amidst her sickly appearance.
The intense pain made Liusu's vision go dark. She tasted a bit of blood between her tightly clenched lower lip and unconsciously bit it until it bled slightly.
Seeing that the faint blush on his pale face made him look even more charming, Shen Sansi felt a tickle in his heart. Hearing Zhuang Su's hoarse roar behind him, he felt even more smug.
The whip in his hand lashed out, striking Liusu hard. His clothes were gradually stained crimson with the overflowing blood. His vision blurred slightly amidst the intense pain, as if all the strength in his body was being forcibly drained away. Yet, two people on either side held his wrists firmly, lifting his entire body into the air. The desolate wind was tinged with the red of blood, and his light clothes fluttered slightly, vaguely resembling a butterfly with broken wings, dying.
The whip lashed down on his body like raindrops. His breath was weak.
"Shen Sansi! Let him go! I told you to let him go—!" Zhuang Su twisted and turned frantically between the two burly men, trying to break free. For a moment, the scene seemed familiar, and a part of her heart was consumed by anger, a sharp pain shooting through her. "Let him go! If you want to deal with someone, deal with me! Let him go, do you hear me!"
One cry after another, chilling yet filled with despair.